Francesca, page 11
‘No meringue dresses with loads of underskirts,’ I said, stopping her before she got carried away.
I saw the wedding planner eyeing me up and then she flicked through a folder and showed me a picture of a dress. Yes, that was definitely the one. I smiled at her and nodded. She certainly knew her job and had chosen the correct dress for me.
‘Right then, all sorted,’ Julie slurred as she stood up. Her eyes were glazed by now, and she had obviously enjoyed her afternoon.
I was still holding my first glass of champagne. I suppose it is an acquired taste, certainly not mine. I couldn’t wait to put the kettle on.
As Julie and Maria walked down the hallway towards the front door, Julie turned on her heels, looking around. ‘Next, Francesca, we have to sort this bloody house out—give it some colour and taste.’
With that, they walked out, and I shut the door behind them. Phew!
I ran quickly to the hallway window and watched the wedding planner struggling to get Julie in the back of the chauffeur-driven limousine.
This truly was another world, wasn’t it? Within a few hours, my winter wonderland wedding had been planned, my dress had been chosen, and the church had been booked. The wedding planner had informed me that my mam and brothers would be contacted and told where to go to get measured up properly for their wedding clothes.
Now it was all a matter of bridesmaids! I didn’t really know anyone. I couldn’t ask a bunch of strippers who were also Mr Lambrianu’s employees to be my bridesmaids.
Candy would obviously be on my list. But who else? I knew Chris wouldn’t want anything to do with it, although I made a mental note to invite her. I was a little disappointed with Chris. She had never made any kind of contact with me since I had moved. I’d left messages on her answer machine to no avail.
Elle, who had watched me intently while watching the proceedings, made me a cup of coffee. She began clearing away the glasses that Julie and Maria had left. Then she picked up her coat and was about to leave when I stopped her. I had my own ‘to do’ list, which didn’t include dresses and cake.
‘Where are the local schools around here, Elle? Do you know any? I will also need to register at a doctors as well.’
She actually looked pleased that I had asked her. We hadn’t found our middle ground yet, and I was still wary of her. She seemed to be always there, floating around tidying up and making Bobby little treats. I knew I had offended her when I’d told her Bobby was my son, and I would look after him. She was there to spy on me for Tony. Bobby was just an innocent in all of this and nothing to do with her or Mr. Lambrianu. I felt in every way that I was being taken over, and everyone was organising my life for me. Not Bobby—all of this made me even more protective of him. I wouldn’t let him be used.
A short drive away from the house was a very quaint modern primary school. I took Bobby with me and went to speak to the head teacher. She informed me that the school did have a place for Bobby if I wanted it. He could start straight away. Bobby was very excited looking at all of the pictures painted by the children on the corridor walls. The school was bright and cheerful. It was a far cry from the old school on my old estate, with its peeling paint due to lack of funding.
Next on my list was to register at a doctor’s. It was more of a giant health centre that covered the whole area. When I walked through the door, I was standing shoulder to shoulder with a queue of people rolling their eyes and complaining. I pushed my way through the crowd and saw the poor receptionist. She was sitting on her own behind a desk on the telephone. It seemed like the patient on the other end was sharing his or her life story!
The queue was complaining and almost arguing among themselves, as they would be late for their appointments if she didn’t hurry up. She looked flustered and stressed.
I don’t know what made me do it. But seeing the situation and listening to the crowd, I walked to the front of the reception desk and lifted up the shutter that let staff in and out.
‘Who is next please?’ I said.
The receptionist tried stopping me and had a worried look on her face, while still locked in a conversation with the other person on the end of the telephone. When she saw that I was checking people in for their appointments and giving out prescriptions, she looked relieved.
The waiting patients nearly cheered that they didn’t have to wait much longer, and there was the usual moan of, ‘About time too.’ This came from the old ladies, who ignored the receptionist. For her part, she had now been able to put the telephone down at long last.
‘Lisa.’ The receptionist held out her hand and shook mine. ‘Thank you. We’ve had two colleagues telephone in sick today, and it’s been manic.’ Poor woman. She looked totally stressed out.
A large woman in a black suit came out of a side door and instantly looked me up and down with a disgusted shocked look on her face. She ordered me out from behind the reception area and wanted to know who I was and what I was doing barging my way around the desk like I had. She told me how lucky I was that she hadn’t telephoned the police. I apologised. Maybe I had been too hasty in my actions. I informed her that I had just moved into the area and had come to register myself and my son at the doctor’s.
With a snotty look still on her face, she handed me the paperwork to register, which I filled in and handed back. I nodded to Lisa and walked out. I could have kicked myself for being so stupid. I was sure that manageress would go out of her way to make sure I never got an appointment!
Elle had let me borrow her car, and I bundled poor Bobby, who had waited patiently for me, into the car and drove home. Fuming, I parked the car around the back of the house, where all three garages led into the conservatory and through to the kitchen.
Elle was in the kitchen as usual. I could smell something cooking in the oven.
‘How did you get on at the school?’ she asked nonchalantly, obviously noticing something was wrong.
I gave Bobby a drink and put the kettle on, while telling her all about my ordeal at the doctor’s. I wasn’t really telling her—it was more a case of using her as a sounding board for my own stupidity. Bobby noticed some chocolate buns on the worktop and instantly walked up to them, pointing and asking for one.
I looked at Elle. It was blatantly clear that, while I had been out, she had baked the buns especially for Bobby, and a casserole was slowly cooking in the oven. She held out the plate of buns to him smiling, all the while waiting for my reaction. Being a young hungry boy, he took two off the plate. I couldn’t help laughing. It had been a long time since I had come home to a homemade meal especially made for me.
‘Julie came around earlier. She told me to tell you that everything was in hand and you’re not to worry. She will telephone you later.’ Elle raised an eyebrow and gave me one of those looks that spoke a thousand words!
‘Why is she taking over everything? I feel like her new project. Surely a woman like her has other things to do.’ I made a coffee for us both. It was a kind of peace offering. At this moment in time, apart from my mam, I felt Elle was the only person on my side.
‘Maybe so, Francesca. But maybe she is lonely. She can’t be that determined to see you married. Her husband is a busy man who throws money at her like it’s going out of fashion. She also drinks far too much, considering she has everything and is happy. In my opinion, people drink too much either to forget or out of boredom or both.’ Elle was a wise woman, who had watched Julie carefully and made up her own mind about her.
We were interrupted by the telephone ringing. I answered it, presuming it would be Julie or Tony giving me more dates to put in that huge diary he had brought with him and put on the hallway table near the telephone. To my surprise, it was the manageress from the doctor’s surgery.
Apparently, once I had left, Lisa the receptionist had told her everything. She apologised for her rudeness and then went on to ask how I knew so much about reception work. I told her that I had trained in business and administration, and one of my work experience jobs had been at a doctor’s practice. She seemed to question my qualifications forever and then asked me if I would like to work for her on a temporary basis. I couldn’t believe my ears. At last, I was being offered a job that I was actually qualified for.
I asked her how she had got my telephone number, and she told me it was on my registration form. Thinking quickly, I knew this wouldn’t affect Tony’s nights out. And it was only part-time, wasn’t it? ‘Yes, I’d like that,’ I answered.
She went on to offer me a few hours the next day, still not knowing when those of her staff who were absent would be back.
I knew Elle would be listening. Quickly ending the call, I informed Elle it had been the doctor’s surgery needing more information. This was my business—something for me to organise. A job meant a little more security; after all, I’d given up my job at the pubs. This would keep me going, when the year was out.
As a man of his word, Tony had put the money he had promised me into my bank account. I had never seen so many zeroes after numbers in my life. For the first time, I could just pay off all of my debts and send a substantial amount home to my mam. That felt good.
The next day, I took Bobby shopping for his new uniform. He looked quite the young man. My little boy was growing up. We had ice creams on the pier. This truly was paradise. Bobby loved the huge gardens at the house, with all of their different flowers, and our walks on the beach, with our hats and scarves on.
I looked at my watch and realised it was nearly time to get ready for work. Oh no. I didn’t have a childminder! Back at the house, Elle was still there. As uncomfortable as I felt, I told her I was having to go to the doctor’s for some kind of induction medical and asked her if she would look after Bobby for me. I explained that I would telephone social services and get a childminders’ register. I would need someone permanent, especially as I would be out most weekends.
Elle seemed to accept my explanation and agreed to look after Bobby. But she seemed disappointed that I would be organising a permanent childminder of my own. I left her with Bobby watching cartoons, while she busied herself in the kitchen. Yet again, I was leading a secret life. Off to work I went, feeling very happy and pleased with myself.
I was greeted by the manager, who showed me around. Like all good receptionists, I was shown the kitchen area where the kettle and the biscuits were. Lisa filled me in on all the doctors’ routines and schedules for the nurses. It felt great. No sooner had I gotten the swing of things, than it was time to leave. I had been there four hours! I was trying to think up excuses in my mind to explain to Elle why I had been so long.
When I eventually got home, waiting for an interrogation, Bobby ran towards me excitedly, holding a huge painting he had done.
Paint pots, brushes, and paper were scattered over the kitchen table. He had obviously had a great time in my absence. He left me and went back to the table to where Elle was sitting. She started to clear away the paints and made her excuses to leave. After all of that worrying, she never asked me why I had taken so long.
Hanging my coat up and tidying around, I noticed the answering machine flashing. When I pressed the button to listen, the first message was from Julie. She was telling me she would be picking me up tomorrow for a dress fitting. My goodness, this woman could rule the world. The second and third messages were from Tony. The first time he asked me to call him back. The next message wasn’t so polite, and he demanded that I telephoned him immediately. Why hadn’t Elle answered the telephone and explained?
I nervously dialled his number, knowing he would be angry that it had taken me so long to answer his messages.
‘Francesca.’
His calm sultry voice down the telephone hadn’t been what I had expected. I started to ramble on with my excuses, about where I had been and he just started laughing.
‘You’re not a prisoner Francesca. You can do as you please, as long as you are there when I need you. After all, like any employer, I like to know that I can rely on you. Has Julie been in touch about the wedding arrangements?’ he asked.
I explained that she had all in hand and had completely taken over everything, with her wedding planner in tow.
‘That’s okay then. I will see you Saturday night as arranged.’ He went on to tell me what time I would be picked up and then hung up.
What a day it had been.
I tidied up, well, as much as I needed to. Elle kept the house spotless. I felt slightly intimidated by the house, still in all of its grandeur. Elle and Julie Gold were right. It was time to make this my house—no, mine and Bobby’s home. I gave Bobby his bath and read him his usual story. Then I decided to run myself a hot bubble bath and soak the day away. I was just about to run my bath when I heard a knock at the door.
Bobby shouted to me and ran to the top of the stairs. I wrapped my dressing gown around me and went downstairs.
It was Tony’s chauffeur. He was standing in the drive beside a large Range Rover, and behind that was a black Jaguar. I looked at him, puzzled by the scene before me. The chauffeur held out some car keys in my direction. ‘Compliments of Mr Lambrianu.’ I took the keys in my hand and watched him walk to the Jaguar and open the door. ‘Wait!’ I shouted to him. ‘Are these keys for that Range Rover.’
‘Yes. The documents are in the glove compartment.’ He opened the passenger door and got in alongside the driver, who had followed him to give him a lift home. I stood in the doorway and watched them both drive away. Then I looked at the car in front of me. People didn’t just buy cars for people, did they?
It was bright red and shiny with tinted windows. It must have cost a fortune. Bobby was running around it excitedly in his pyjamas. I opened the car door and saw the red leather seats. Bobby got into the car and was jumping around on all of the seats. I was still totally gobsmacked. It was getting dark, and I thought I would investigate this new vehicle more tomorrow.
Standing in the hallway, my mind in turmoil, I picked up the telephone and dialled Mr Lambrianu’s number. He answered in his usual velvety smooth voice, and I told him I had just received the car. ‘I can’t accept it,’ I said. ‘After all, I can buy my own now. I appreciate the gesture. But, well, I don’t know what to say.’
I heard a deep sigh on the other end of the telephone line. ‘Do you like it, Francesca? You need a car, and I can’t have my fiancée using the housekeeper’s car, can I? If you like it, keep it. If you don’t, well, that’s up to you.’
I could sense his impatience in his voice. It obviously wasn’t the call he had expected. I supposed he had expected me to be gushing thank yous down the telephone, like his girlfriends did when he bought them something. But this was different, wasn’t it? I felt uncomfortable. Elle had obviously told him that I didn’t have a car. Or how else would he have known?
‘Look, Francesca, this is all very entertaining,’ he barked at me down the telephone. ‘Your coyness does you credit. So just accept it with good grace, eh?’
With that, he put the telephone down. I must have sounded very ungrateful, and that had annoyed him—my throwing it back in his face like that.
‘You okay, boss?’ Jake looked at Tony sitting at his desk, his face flushed with anger. He watched Tony put both of his hands through his hair, pushing back his blonde fringe, which instantly fell back into place.
‘No, I’m bloody not. I’ve just sent Francesca a car, and she didn’t even thank me. All she said was that she couldn’t accept it. Bloody hell, Jake, most people would be skipping if a new car landed on their doorstep. What is wrong with her?’
Jake couldn’t understand why Tony had taken Francesca’s reaction so personally. He never usually cared what people thought. He was right, though. Anyone else would be excited and thanking his or her lucky stars.
‘She will use it, Tony. Maybe it is all a bit overpowering for her. Let’s be honest, she has never known anything like it. She didn’t have a penny to her name. Anyway, why did you buy her that car? Custom-made, wasn’t it? Surely, she has enough money to buy her own now. God knows, you have paid her enough.’ Jake started laughing, not only at his own joke but to try and lighten the atmosphere.
Tony looked up at Jake. Now, not only was his face flushed with anger, he also felt embarrassed. He straightened his tie and put his jacket on for the evening before them.
Apart from Elle telling him Francesca had caught the train that day when she had gone to view the house, she had also borrowed Elle’s to do some shopping and run Bobby to school. He didn’t know why he had done it himself. ‘Good will gesture. Keep her sweet.’
He stood up and opened the door for Jake, and they both walked out of the office into the busy casino.
The next morning, I took Bobby to his new school, wearing his school uniform. He was excited getting dressed and putting his lunch box into his new Batman rucksack. I decided to try the new car and drive him to school. It was indeed luxury, unlike anything I had ever driven. Mine had all been old bangers, which just about got me from place to place.
When I looked up at the rear-view mirror, I noticed two fluffy dice hanging from it. A sticky note was attached. It read, ‘From one gambler to another, TL.’
TL—Tony Lambrianu. I hadn’t seen it last night, and so his joke had gone amiss. No wonder he was a little angry when I had telephoned him. Apart from me thanking him, he had expected me to laugh at his joke, not sound ungrateful.
I felt a little deflated when I took Bobby to school, as he was instantly distracted by some boys playing with a football and went to join them.
The teachers came out to line up the children and nodded to me. ‘He will be okay,’ one of the teachers said. She smiled at me, seeing my look of rejection.
He would. But what about me? I was like all mums, who hope they will be missed when they take their babies to school and are disappointed when their children don’t even notice they have gone.
